Massage instrument



April 14, 1925.

1,533,528 J. A. WEAVER MAS SAGE INS TRUMENT Filed Oct. 18, 1925 my ,7, 122/912 A. Wm/r ullmnu Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN A. WEAVER, OF GBEELEY, COLORADO.

MASSAGE INSTRUMENT.

Application filed October 18, 1923. Serial No. 689,232.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. IVnAvnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greeley, county of lVeld, and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Massage Instruments; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art-to which it appertains'to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to massage instru ments and has special reference to an instrument for massaging parts parallel with the spinal column.

It has been demonstrated by a large number of experiments that massage, as a remedial treatment, is very effective in various ailments. Since the spinal column is the trunk line from which alarge number of nerves branch out to various organs, it is the seat of various ailments and certain schools of healing have developed a system of treatment directed to the rectification of spinal defects, which, in turn, relieves pressure on the nerves and improves the functioning of the organs.

It is the object of this invention to produce a device by means of which one is enabled to massage his own back, thereby increasing the circulation and stimulating the nervous system to greater activity.

My invention briefly described, consists of a roller mounted for free rotation on an axle and provided with-handlesthat can be grasped by the hands, and by means of which the roller may be moved upwardly and downwardly along the spine.

In order better and more clearly to describe my invention, I shall have reference to the accompanying drawing in which my invention is shown in its present preferred embodiment, and in which:

F ig. 1 is a side elevation of my instrument in fully assembled relation;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation form of roller; and s Fig. 4L is an end elevation of another form of roller.

of a modified being locked in place by means of a locknut 5. A tubular member 6 is rotatably mounted on the axle 1 and spaced from the races or cones3 and 4 by means of balls 7. The roller 2 is mounted on tubular member 6 and held against relative rotation thereon by means of a key 8 and from longitudinal movement by means of flange 9 and nut 5. The roller: may be readily removed by removing the lock-nut 5. In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a roller whose outer surface is circular and smooth, and which has its center portion 10 of'less diameter than its ends 11. In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown end views of two modifications of the roller which consist in forming the ends 11 with a plurality of teeth 12, which may be formed as the parts just described I secure two handles, each of which has a part 13, one end of which is provided with av socket 14 that is threadedly connected to the ends of the axle 1. Parts 13 are rectangular and extend outwardly some distance, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The second portion of each arm consists of a part 15 that is shown or in any other way. To

clamped to the parts 13 by means of clamps 16. The total length of the arms may be changed by simply loosening the clamps 16 and sliding parts 18 and 15 longitudinally of each other. members 15 are coil springs 17, to the free ends of which are fastened by means of swivels 18 to hand grips 19.

y The purpose of making the device so that the roller may be readily removed, is to permit the rollers of different construction to be employed, some being made with smooth edges and others having their edges irregular or corrugated more or less deeply to give a greater or less penetration to the tissues.

Secured to the outer ends of V The instrument described above is designed to be used by one person and is therefore provided with handles that extend a considerable distance to each side of the roller and which have hand grips 19 secured thereto by means of coil springs. When the instrument is to be employed by an assistant, the adjustable extensions may be dispensed with and hand grips provided near the roller, one on each side thereof.

The assistant may grasp the massage instrument in both hands and move the roller back and forth on the body of the patient.

My device is en'iployed in the following manner: The body is bared to the waist line. The instrument is grasped by handles 19 and swung into position across the back with the roller 2 straddling the spinous processes of the vertebrae. By moving the hands up and down, the roller will be given a corresponding up and down movement, which will thoroughly massage the back. By means of this instrument, employed in the manner explained, beneficial results can often be attained where drugs would be wholly ineffective. I

Having now lescribed my invention what I claim as new is:

A massage instrument comprising, in combination, a shaft having threaded ends, a handle member, having a threaded socket, secured to one end of said shaft, said member having ball raceway, a ball raceway threadedly secured to the other end of said shaft, a tubular member surrounding said shaft, a massage roller on said tubular member, said tubular member having a ball race at each end, balls between said tubular member and said raceways, a washer on said shaft, said washer having a diameter somewhat greater than the tubular member, and a handle portion engaging said shaft and engaging said washer.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN A. WEAVER. 

